FC take the win at the Jungle.

A fast start from Tigers is what we wanted, and it’s what we got. If the team wanted to show a response to Wakefield we had it early on, with Tex Hoy flying through the line within 5 and starting a period of sustained pressure.

The first 10 minutes saw Cas camped inside the Hull half as Asi popped balls over and the pressure mounted. Cas were quick with hands and feet and Hull were thankful for an early offside to clear their lines. Hoy seemed to be enjoying the reunion more than his former team as he looked solid in defence and electric in attack. 

Finally, the pressure told, and a flowing Tigers break orchestrated by the energetic Rimbu was finished by Simm and converted by Hoy. It was exactly what the Tigers deserved for their start to the game.

Swarming defence from Cas was a theme of the first half as they continued to keep Hull in their half and built pressure. 

It was only a rare visit to the Cas half that resulted in a try for Jordan Rapana. Cas were caught short of numbers out wide and Rapana finished a move that went from right to left but fortunately the conversion was missed by Hardaker.

 For a brief moment it sparked Hull into life. And at 6-4 with 5 minutes of the half left it felt like game on. But as Westy left the pitch before half time after a proper shift, the boys continued to turn the screw and once again it was Innes in the corner that gave the Tigers a proper lead they deserved at half time. 10 -4 and a performance to build on.

However, the half time helped Hull as within 3 mins a penalty in their half resulted in them going over at the Railway end through Cartwright and suddenly it was a tied game. And then it was all Hull. Another penalty, this time 10m out tested the Cas defence before Bourouh twisted through from 2 metres, and it was another Westerman who put Hull 6 points up with back to back conversions. The momentum had swung sharply since the break.

After that Hull offered very little in attack but were resolute in defence as Cas were one pass or one strong tackle from scoring on at least three occasions. 

The introduction of Rooney provided real energy. He was at the heart of everything positive and dangerous as the half wore on and could have scored himself on a couple of occasions. Rimbu too went close in the final minutes, but even a penalty under the posts for Cas couldn’t be converted as Hull’s defence held strong on the goal line. 

Some tired bodies at the final whistle and not the result we wanted, but an improvement on Wakefield was needed and its what we got. If anything, the best team on the day didn’t win but there were plenty of positives to take from the first half performance in particular.

FULL TIME SCORE: CASTLEFORD TIGERS 10 – 16 HULL FC

Castleford Tigers: Tex Hoy, Josh Simm, Zac Cini, Sam Wood, Innes Senior, Judah Rimbu, Daejarn Asi, George Lawler, Liam Horne, George Griffin, Jeremiah Simbiken, Alex Mellor, Joe Westerman.

Interchanges: Liam Watts, Cain Robb, Luke Hooley, Muizz Mustapha, Sylvester Namo, Fletcher Rooney, Dan Okoro

Tries: Simm, Senior

Conversions: Hoy

Hull FC: Logan Moy, Tom Briscoe, Zak Hardaker, Jordan Rapana, Harvey Barron, Cade Cust, Aidan Sezer, Herman Ese’Ese, Amir Bourouh, Ligi Sao, Jordan Lane, Ed Chamberlain, John Asiata.

Interchanges: Jed Cartwright, Jack Ashworth, Brad Fash, Will Gardiner, Lewis Martin, Denive Balmforth, Zach Jebson, Ryan Westerman, Callum Kemp, Hugo Salabio, Lennon Clark, Will Hutchinson, Lloyd Kemp, Will Kirby, Joe Ward.

Tries: Rapana, Cartwright, Bourouh

Conversions: Westerman x2